Unhealthy Comparisons (4)

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.”            1Co 12:4 NIV
Unhealthy Comparisons (4)
No matter how good you are, you’ll never be good at being somebody else. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to live up to the reputation of another person. The new husband says to his wife, “My mother makes better fried chicken than this.” The wife retorts, “Then tell your mother to come over here and cook you some.” If you want your wife to shine in the kitchen, compliment her. Don’t compare her with somebody else. Unhealthy comparisons hurt relationships! The Psalmist writes about the successful person who “is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (Ps 1:3 NIV). A wise fruit grower understands three things about his trees: (1) Apple trees are only capable of producing apples. (2) Apple trees only produce apples in certain seasons. (3) It’s a mistake to pick your apples too early. When the daughter of a well-known preacher was introduced on a Christian television network, she received invitations from several churches to come and speak. But her father said, “No, leave her alone. I won’t allow the system to eat her up and begin to compare her unfavorably with her father or mother or somebody else she can never be. I want her to be herself.” What great counsel and insight! Paul writes, “That we…might be for the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:12 NIV). When you understand who you are and what God created you to be—being yourself brings glory to God! You can say, “Lord, I’m thankful for who You made me; I’m through complaining or wishing I could be somebody else.”

Share